How seized criminal cash is being used to fund vital community projects across the city

When Greater Manchester Police (GMP) launched Operation Falcon in May 2022, it marked the beginning of a mission to reclaim criminal funds and reinvest them where they could make a real difference—within the community.

Over the last two years, more than £2 million in dirty money has been seized and redirected, funding local initiatives and empowering organisations that make Manchester safer and the wonderful city it is today.

With every pound recovered, GMP is proving that the money once fuelling crime can now bring hope and opportunity to those it once harmed.

Operation Falcon

Detective Superintendent Joe Harrop, the head of GMP’s Serious and Organised Crime team and lead on Operation Falcon, captures the spirit of this transformative effort: “Money laundering touches every crime type, and seizing these ill-gotten gains cuts into the lifeline of organised crime. It also means we’re making Greater Manchester a safer place to live, work, and visit.”

Operation Falcon targets a specific type of criminal activity—cash-based money laundering. Many of the seized funds were discovered hidden in cars, stashed in homes, and carefully concealed by those who thought they could evade the law. But with a combination of skilled intelligence officers, tactical vehicle intercept teams, and dedicated experts in the Asset Detention and Recovery Unit, GMP has managed to crack down on these criminal networks.

From road intercepts to search warrants at suspect properties, the teams have managed to halt criminal cash in its tracks. Once seized, the cash goes through a rigorous process to confirm it was gained through criminal activity, allowing it to be legally reallocated.

Using criminal cash

Once the cash is freed from the clutches of crime, GMP has the green light to reinvest it. Thanks to the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS), half of every recovered pound stays within the community while the other half goes to the Home Office.

These funds go toward various community-driven projects and police resources that target crime reduction and prevention.

In one shining example, GMP has funded roles like that of Stuart Collier, an Investigative Support Officer and retired police detective. Stuart, who spent years in service with GMP, returned to the force to help lighten the administrative load on active officers. “I just love being in the cops,” he said. “I’m here to support the officers, helping bring economic criminals to justice and protect vulnerable people.”

Empowering community projects through Operation Falcon

For organisations across Manchester, ARIS funding has been a lifeline. City in the Community, a local charity focused on empowering young lives through sport, expressed their gratitude: “Thanks to the ARIS fund, we’re able to provide much-needed sports and mentoring sessions in communities like Wythenshawe and Hulme.

This funding allows us to support and uplift young people in areas where our projects are needed most.”

The Bolton Scout Trust also benefited, using ARIS funds to rebuild their Activity Barn, a place where children and young people gather for team-building activities, skill development, and friendship. The revamped facility will be able to accommodate more visitors and offer safer, modern amenities for all.

Another organisation, Tackling Minds, received funding to expand its fishing therapy program, helping individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues. With the therapeutic power of fishing, Tackling Minds offers a serene environment where people can find relief, camaraderie, and a path to recovery. “Thanks to the ARIS funding,” Tackling Minds reported, “we’ve been able to extend a lifeline to those grappling with addiction. Every fishing line we cast is a cast for hope and healing.”

Even Foundation92, a youth organisation, saw its mission expand with ARIS support. The funds allowed them to purchase and customise a mobile bus equipped with a pool table, games, and a safe space where young people can gather, relax, and stay out of trouble.

Turning crime into care

Through this remarkable initiative, money that once funded criminal enterprises now provides local groups with the means to foster safety, opportunity, and resilience in Manchester’s neighbourhoods.

Detective Inspector Sarah Langley, who leads GMP’s Economic Crime Unit, sums it up best: “It’s only right that the money we recover from criminals goes back to benefit the communities they once hurt.”

Greater Manchester Police’s Operation Falcon and ARIS funding are proving that every seized pound can be a step toward change. The initiative sends a powerful message: crime may pay for a time, but ultimately, that money will serve to heal and uplift the communities it once threatened.